Wilma Jarvis

Wilma Jarvis

Mars Hill - Wilma Emory Jarvis, 87, of the Forks of Ivy section of Madison County, rushed out of our arms early Tuesday morning into the arms of the love of her life on the banks of the Jordan River. She had patiently waited to meet James, who traveled on before her after living and loving together for 63 years. He left four years ago, January, to make sure her flower garden in Heaven was just right.

Wilma was the daughter of Wilburn and Lillian McClure Emory and grew up in the Ivy Hill Community of Buncombe County, the oldest of eight children. She was a homemaker who loved caring for her family and was known for her ginger snaps and Mexican cornbread. She was a lifelong member of Ivy Hill Baptist Church. She loved gardening and working in her flowers and was still enjoying yard work until recent weeks.

In addition to her parents, Wilma was preceded in death by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Nat Fox, Shirley and Chuck Jackson, and Sarah Robertson; and brother, Junior Emory.

Wilma left behind her four children, Delora "Dee" Sumerel (David), Kay Mackey, Larry (Linda) and Rebecca Gessner (Bob); grandchildren, Billy Mackey (Dara), Renae Davis (Steve), Yvonne Giannini (Randy), Rachel Childress, Kissiah Gessner, Lock Gessner (Chelsea) and Eli Gessner (Vicky); 8 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Wruble Hammitt, Judy Wright (Jim), Elaine Revis (Joe); a sister-in-love, Alice Emory; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 2pm Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Ivy Hill Baptist Church. Reverends Philip and Worth Emory will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Lock and Eli Gessner, Billy Mackey, Tom Fox, Philip Dillingham, Chris Bean, Randell Metcalf, and Bobby Payne will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Wednesday, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ivy Hill Baptist Church for Honduras Missions, c/0 Ruth Ball, 58 First Street, Asheville, NC 28803.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.